Complex construction-supporting structures, and use of said complex construction-supporting structures

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are complex construction-supporting structures made up of two-walled, plane load-bearing structural modules which are designed for the production of two-walled, plane load-bearing structures that are made up of individual, assembled, plane load-bearing structural modules and form primary-shell load-bearing systems which in turn are combined, possibly with the additional use of complementary components such as plane truss elements (9), in order to form complex construction-supporting structures which can be used in the presence of rising sea levels or groundwater tables, poor foundation soils, and earthquakes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national phase of the International Patent Application PCT/EP2020/025197 filed on Apr. 29, 2020.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a further development of a double-shell load-bearing structure module known from the PCT/EP2018/000066 in which double-shell support structures in the form of primary shell support structures are formed from individual, assembled modules, which are referred to as primary shell support structures in the description that follows and which can be joined to form complex structural support structures as a result of the further development.

From CN 102174858, a prefabricated building system with a steel lattice structure consisting of wall panels, ceiling panels, and vertical supports is known, the components of which have special structures and which has solutions to connect the components.

DE 3 415 344 A1 describes a rapid construction framework, in particular made of steel, as a support structure for the ceiling and wall panels of a building. This solution is known as skeleton construction, which is provided here with special connection solutions for the rod components (supports, tie bars) for the rapid assembly of the skeleton.

From EP 1 609 924 A1, inverted coffered ceilings made of reinforced concrete with 3 layers of intersecting ribs are known. In this case, the lower layer 1 is formed by a reinforced concrete slab, layer 2 is formed by ribs and recesses, and layer 3 is formed by panels/tiles mounted on the intersection points of the ribs and provided with supports for distributing conditioned air or wiring/piping installations. Here, the ceiling elements rest on columns at their corners and are connected to one another by special coupling devices.

GB 1,175,711 describes parallel lattice girders crossing one another for floor or ceiling frameworks for use as a support structure.

Prefabricated grid sections made of cross members laid on parallel lattice girders made of the same or similar profiles as the grid sections are known from US 2009/0282766 A1. The girders lie on main supporting elements of the building (beams, walls), and the recesses in the grid sections are covered by removable panels. The suspended ceilings formed from this system are suspended on the flat girders or on main supporting elements of the building so that almost complete accessibility to the intermediate space between the supported grid ceiling and the suspended ceiling is enabled.

A disadvantage of all these known solutions is that there is no interaction between the spaced elements that could contribute to the load-bearing effect of the slab, and that the related solutions are relatively heavy. In addition, the load-bearing support elements cannot be joined together to form complex spatial structural support structures in which all components that can contribute to the overall load-bearing effect are joined together.

From PCT/EP2018/000066, a load-bearing structure module is known, which basically consists of two secondary shells 1, corner angle profiles 2, and the structurally necessary diagonals 3 that, as a result of the reusability of the modules, can be joined to the flexible and highly prefabricated primary shell support structures using detachable connections, which, in addition to their structural function, can also be used for the temporary or permanent mobile storage of furniture, equipment, or storage containers.

More and more problems arising today in the construction of new buildings are caused by poor, non-uniform subsoil conditions, rising sea levels, rising groundwater levels, and earthquakes.

The disadvantage of the customary construction methods and construction techniques used to date is that they do not realize the properties of structures necessary to meet the requirements stated above or only realize them inadequately.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the solution according to the invention is therefore to propose a solution to these problems that overcomes the disadvantages of the known prior art and expands the application limits of conventional support structures.

This object is achieved by the complex structural support structures and the use of these complex structural support structures according to the invention, which, due to their extremely high overall stability and local stiffness as well as

-   -   especially through an appropriate choice of material—their very         low weight, enable them to contribute to solving the current         problems such as poor, non-uniform subsoil conditions, rising         sea or groundwater levels, and earthquakes and to significantly         expanding the current application limits of conventional support         structures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present innovative and independent solution describes a modified double-shell load-bearing structure module, with which double-shell load-bearing structures in the form of primary shell support structures are to be formed from individual, connected load-bearing structure modules of this type, which in turn are joined to form complex structural support structures, possibly together with supplementary components such as planar frameworks 9. This will be explained in more detail based on FIGS. 1 to 3 .

The figures illustrate the following.

FIG. 1 : Example of a modified load-bearing structure module with a detailed view of the diagonal connection.

FIG. 2 : Shows a view of a planar primary shell support structure with connection plates.

FIG. 3 : View of a spatial, complex structural support structure with a detailed view of an orthogonal module connection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Using double-shell load-bearing structure modules comprising two secondary shell elements 1, which bound the load-bearing structure modules on two opposite sides, and the web required for structural reasons, to which the corner angle profiles 2 and the diagonals 3 also belong, double-shell load-bearing structures are joined together in the form of primary shell support structures with a planar load-bearing effect and an in-plane load-bearing effect. By modifying the design of the connection solutions in the corners of the load-bearing structure modules, it becomes possible to form complex structural support structures that realize the spatial interaction of different components, for example the ceilings and walls of a building, using simple means.

As a simple example, it can be noted that floor slabs lying one over the other, as primary shell support structures from the known load-bearing structure modules, function just like the flanges of oversized double T-beams, whereby walls formed from planar frameworks 9 or likewise from primary shell support structures, or a combination thereof, assume the task of the webs.

Due to the production of the complex structural support structures, it is possible to build irregular structures in which all the main components for which this is expedient are involved in transferring the loads regardless of their orientation and position as well as through a plurality of stories of the building, so that the support structure is highly efficient. This enables very long unsupported span lengths to be realized without additional effort. This offers additional possibilities that could only be realized with very great effort using conventional designs and methods. This includes, for example, completely overbuilding existing buildings without having to restrict or disrupt the use thereof. It is also conceivable to build over roads or small valleys in order to utilize the areas below the buildings in some other way. This creates a perfect opportunity for the urban densification often desired today in urban areas.

In addition, in the case of buildings with floors made of primary shell support structures and simultaneous, at least partial use of these primary shell support structures, when appropriately thick, as walls, it provides a simple way of creating installation or storage spaces in the entire building and connecting them to one another, as well as the possibility to use said primary shell support structures as storage containers to transport objects or people throughout the entire building and for other purposes later on. For this purpose, the containers must also be moved orthogonally through the double-shell primary shell support structures. In order to access a plurality of levels, the secondary shells can then be partially replaced by peripheral frames 4.

The load-bearing structure modules realized as a double-shell system are modified in that the connections on the corners to adjacent modules are not only produced in the two directions parallel to the shell, but also in the direction orthogonal thereto. This is achieved in that the flat bars used according to the prior art are replaced on the outer sides of the connection pockets by angle profiles, the additional flange of which is arranged in each case parallel to the shell on the outer side of the module.

With corresponding holes drilled in the flanges of angle profiles that lie horizontal when used for the floor slab, for example, it is then possible to easily and detachably connect planar frameworks 9, which also comprise identical prefabricated elements or primary shell support structures built from double-shell load-bearing structure modules.

Similarly, the transfer of the longitudinal forces in the secondary shell planes as well as the shear forces through connection plates 5 of an appropriate shape and size lying parallel to and outside of the secondary shells in the nodes of the support structure can also be realized with corresponding holes 5.1 with screws, including washers and nuts 5.2, as a result of which assembly of the support structures is greatly simplified.

In this case, the number and arrangement of the screws 5.2 can vary. In the simplest case, one screw 5.2 per module corner is sufficient. Three screws 5.2 per module corner are shown in the drawings, wherein the two screws close to the edge can also correspond to the additional holes 6 in the corner angle profiles 2 described further below. When using such connection plates 5 and a separate connection of the diagonals 3, as a result of which assembly is even further simplified, it is also possible to dispense with the connection pockets or connectors still proposed in the state of the art.

The associated FIGS. 1 to 3 refer to this exemplary connection solution in the module corners. The connection between orthogonally arranged modules is realized by additional, correspondingly mounted connection plates 5.3.

Only possible connection solutions are described and illustrated here.

Depending on the materials currently selected or developed later for the modules, other detailed connection solutions may be suitable. The required diagonals are fastened separately with the aid of short cylindrical pins 7 at the ends of the corner angle profiles 2 shortly before the respective inner surface of the secondary shells 1.

To fasten the diagonals 3, which are pushed with their holes over the cylinder pins 7, a nut can be screwed on a partial thread (not shown), or a split pin 7.1 can be inserted in a corresponding hole.

Using this type of separate fastening, the diagonals 3 can, if necessary, also be replaced very easily by a closed frame when the diagonals 3 prevent the modules from being used in special applications. For simple, possibly necessary reinforcement of the connection of the connection plate for the transfer of the longitudinal forces into the plane of the secondary shell as well as of the shear forces, it would appear to be expedient to provide additional holes 6, in addition to the diagonal connections 7 and 7.1, in the corner angle profiles 2 extending perpendicularly to the plane of the shell in the immediate vicinity of the two ends, and offset as far as necessary in the direction of the center of the bar.

As mentioned above, these holes 6 can also be used entirely or as a supplement to the orthogonal ceiling/wall connection if corresponding holes 5.1 are provided or drilled in the secondary shell 1 of the module to be connected orthogonally.

The secondary shells 1 can also be made thinner in the area 8 of the connection plate 5 to be connected by an amount equal to the thickness thereof (including the height of the screw heads or nuts if countersunk screws are not used) in order to compensate for the elevated height of the connection plate connection (5, 5.1, 5.2). Any recesses still present on the connecting plates 5 in the area around the screw heads or nuts are filled or cast with suitable materials.

Since it is desired to produce the highest possible number of identical load-bearing structure modules and supplementary components, the development of assembly robots would also appear to be simple and promising.

Within the complex structural support structures, it is possible in some cases to use conventional components such as ceiling panels and wall panels made of reinforced concrete, for example.

Furthermore, it is proposed that, parallel to the secondary shells 1 and in an area equal to their respective size, a second panel level with an appropriate spacing from secondary shell 1 is to be mounted on supports or fastened on the outside. This second panel level can comprise one or more subpanels.

These additional panels should be manually mountable, if possible, and can be laid on or fastened to spring-loaded support blocks, hangers, or spacers. This would significantly improve the sound insulation properties of the components. Depending on the material selected, it is also possible to increase the fire resistance of the components. However, the resulting intermediate space can also be used to heat or cool the buildings by circulating warm or cold air through the intermediate space. All surfaces surrounding a space, provided that they comprise the described load-bearing structure modules, can thus be activated for climate control, wherein the use of air as a thermal energy carrier makes considerably simpler, more robust, more economical, and more flexible installations possible than the liquids that have been used to date for the most part.

A particular application of the complex structural support structures according to the invention in buildings with ceilings made of primary shell support structures according to PCT/EP2018/000066 and simultaneous use of the primary shell support structures as walls in appropriate thicknesses, is to use containers to transport things through the entire building and for other purposes later on in addition to using them for storage purposes.

For this purpose, these containers are also moved vertically through the double-shell walls. Thus, for example, goods can be delivered to occupants of the building from the street or from a drone landing pad on the roof of the building and be sent in this manner to the unit of the occupant in a more or less automated manner.

If these containers are correspondingly large and an associated increase in the distance between the secondary shells is required that may only be possible in certain areas, then the containers can be replaced by capsules for transporting passengers or carrying them. The passenger capsules as well as the normal containers can then first be moved inside the building and from there to the roof or to an opening in the side of the building so they can be picked up by a drone or another flying object and transported further. Alternatively, containers and passenger capsules can also be coupled to or coupled into central transport systems, which are likely to be installed in the future and which can run underground, at ground level, or on vertical supports.

The spaces between the secondary shells can be used in areas where exterior walls of the building are located as a basis for greening the facade.

In a further advantageous application of the solution according to the invention, the additional panel layers parallel to the secondary shells or the secondary shells 1 themselves can also be used for cleaning systems. Thus, for example, dust and dirt can be sucked from the floor when using appropriately perforated panels and special, permeable textile coverings into the intermediate space and filtered out of the air.

In the case of hard floors, the gaps to be widened in regions between the additional panels or the secondary shells 1 could be used to mount spray wipers and drainage channels.

When the system is put into operation, the spray wipers are moved upwards and cleaning solution is distributed by integrated spray nozzles and wiped off by the rod-like wipers, which either rotate about a vertical axis or are moved by linear drives over the surface of the panel, together with the dissolved dirt and dust into the drainage channels, which are also located between the panels.

The cleaning solution can be reused after filtering. In wet rooms, the cleaning solution can also be distributed by separate, adjustable nozzles, which can be located on all surfaces enclosing the room.

The dissolved dirt and dust are then rinsed with a suitable sprayable liquid and conveyed by the floor wipers into the drainage channels.

The surfaces are dried by air from special nozzles.

The floor wipers are designed to be flexible and are segmented in order to avoid obstacles located on the floor such as furniture.

In a further advantageous application of the solution according to the invention, the containers already described are designed as plant containers and can be used as mini plant factories.

In this manner, plants can be planted in these containers, which are formed with an appropriate area and at an appropriate height on the wall and in which topsoil or plant substrate is placed.

The plants can be illuminated by special lamps (e.g. LED), and they can be watered manually or automatically. These mini plant factories are preferably moved on rails in the levels between the secondary shells of the load-bearing structure modules, from which its useful surface area is also obtained. Access is gained through openings in the secondary shells, through which the containers are directly accessible or can be raised, lowered, or removed horizontally. The mini plant factories are characterized above all by an extremely high productivity and are highly ecological. The plants grow throughout the entire year with little additional energy, use fertilizers and water sparingly, unlike in conventional agriculture, and do not require pesticides or herbicides. In addition, fruits and vegetables are produced directly at the site of consumption and entirely as needed. It also appears to be conceivable and expedient to use the space between the secondary shells for aquariums, terrariums, or small animal husbandry.

In the case of mini plant factories, a central service or processing space can then sow seeds, plant, and care for the plants. The consumer only needs to harvest.

For example, food markets could also use their ceilings, walls, and floors in this manner.

Buildings constructed in the manner proposed here are characterized in particular by their extremely high overall stability and local stiffness in comparison to conventionally constructed buildings and their very low dead weight, especially when a corresponding material is selected.

Advantageously, the solution according to the invention can be used to make a contribution to solving the three current problems already mentioned such as poor, non-uniform subsoil conditions, rising sea levels, rising groundwater levels, and earthquakes.

For this purpose, it is proposed to execute the lower part of the building, i.e. the foundation and the walls rising from the foundation up to an appropriate height, so that it is impervious to liquids, for example by means of a waterproof outer coating or cladding. In this area, it is possible to arrange a plurality of primary shells over one another, if necessary, and use them for plant production as described above. A larger number of liquid tanks or air cushions, which need to be filled and drained separately and are evenly distributed over the floor space, are located in the lowest area. The building is now erected in a very stable, watertight trough with an open top, the inner surfaces of which correspond to the respective outer surfaces of the building plus an appropriate gap. The trough should also be made of load-bearing structure modules, for example like those described in PCT/EP2018/000066. After the building is erected, flexible liquid tanks or air cushions, which can also be filled or drained separately, or length-adjustable, rod-like elements with which the distance between the inner wall of the trough and the exterior wall of the building can be controlled, for example, are installed in the space between the inner walls of the trough and the exterior walls of the building. Finally, the trough is filled up to an appropriate height with water or another suitable liquid until the building floats. While filling, the horizontal position of the building is continuously monitored and controlled by separately filling and emptying each of the liquid tanks or air cushions located in the building, as well as by separately filling and emptying each of the lateral liquid tanks or air cushions or by adjusting the length of the rod-like elements. The height of the building can likewise be adapted using the described control mechanisms and by changing the level of the liquid in the trough. In the case of unfavorable subsoil conditions, settling as well as tilting due to non-uniform settling of the building can be compensated for.

In the event of earthquakes, it is assumed that the input energy transmitted into the building structure is sufficiently low as a result of the stability and the mass inertia of the building and the simultaneously very low and therefore controllable restraint of the foundation in order to avoid damage.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   -   1 Secondary shells     -   2 Corner angle profiles     -   3 Diagonals     -   4 Frame as a replacement for secondary shells     -   5 Connection plates with holes 5.1, screw fittings 5.2, and         connection     -   plates with additional orthogonal connection plates 5.3     -   6 Additional holes in the corner angle profiles 2     -   7 Cylinder pins for diagonal or spare frame connections with         split pin 7.1     -   8 Areas with a lower secondary shell thickness     -   9 Planar framework 

What is claimed is:
 1. (canceled)
 2. Complex structural support structures in which individual, connected load-bearing structure modules, which comprise two secondary shell elements, which lie at a distance from one another and bound the load-bearing structure modules on two opposite sides, and the web required for structural reasons, to which the corner angle profiles and the diagonals also belong, double-shell load-bearing structures are joined together in the form of primary shell support structures with a planar load-bearing effect and an in-plane load-bearing effect; wherein said primary shell support structures allow adding supplementary components such as planar frameworks; and wherein for forming irregular structures all the main components for which this is expedient are involved in transferring the loads regardless of their orientation and position as well as through a plurality of stories of the building, so that the support structure is highly efficient.
 3. (canceled)
 4. Complex structural support structures according to claim 1, which are formed from load-bearing structure modules, which have connections for connecting adjacent modules, which are realized in the two directions parallel to the shell and in the orthogonal direction in that the flat bars used according to the prior art are replaced on the outer sides of the connection pockets by angle profiles, the additional flange of which is arranged in each case parallel to the shell on the outer side of the module and in which corresponding holes are located; and in which the longitudinal forces in the secondary shell planes as well as the shear forces between the load-bearing structure modules are transferred through connection plates of an appropriate shape and size lying parallel to and outside of the secondary shells in the nodes of the support structure and with corresponding holes in the connection plates and secondary shells with screws, including washers and nuts, wherein the connection to orthogonally arranged modules is realized by additional, correspondingly mounted connection plates; wherein said connection plates can be countersunk into respecting recesses former within the secondary shells.
 5. (canceled)
 6. Complex structural support structures according to claim 1, in which the diagonals are connected separately by short cylindrical pins with split pins or partial threads at the corner angle profiles in the construction of the load-bearing structure module, and in which a closed frame replaces the diagonals if they prevent the use of the space between the secondary shells.
 7. Complex structural support structures according to claim 6, in which for the required reinforcement of the connection plate connection for the transfer of the longitudinal forces into the plane of the secondary shell and of the shear forces between the load-bearing structure modules, additional holes are arranged, in addition to the diagonal connections, in the corner angle profiles extending perpendicularly to the plane of the shell in the immediate vicinity of their two ends and offset as far as necessary in the direction of the center of the bar, which can also be used entirely or additionally for the orthogonal ceiling/wall connection when corresponding holes are provided or are additionally produced in the secondary shell of the load-bearing structure module to be orthogonally connected; wherein said additional holes also allow to connect the closed frames, which closed frames may optionally substitute said diagonals.
 8. (canceled)
 9. Complex structural support structures according to claim 1, in which, parallel to the secondary shells and in an area equal to their respective size, a second panel level with an appropriate spacing from secondary shell is formed from one or more subpanels mounted on supports or fastened on the outside; wherein resulting intermediate spaces between the secondary shells and the respective second layer of panels are used for heating and/or cooling and/or ventilation of the building, whereby warm or cold air is circulated depending on the weather and needs of the user. 10.-11. (canceled)
 12. The use of complex structural support structures according to claim 1 with primary shell support structures as ceiling constructions and simultaneous, at least partial use of these primary shell support structures as walls of an appropriate thicknesses for creating and connecting installation or storage spaces throughout the building and use of these rooms for storing storage containers and/or for transporting things or people through the entire building, wherein the secondary shells are then partially replaced by peripheral frames. 13.-17. (canceled)
 18. The use of complex structural support structures according to claim 9, in which the resulting intermediate spaces between the secondary shells and the respective second layer of panels are used for heating and/or cooling and/or ventilation of the building, whereby warm or cold air is circulated depending on the weather and needs of the users.
 19. The use of complex structural support structures according to claim 1, in which the additional panel layers parallel to the secondary shells or the secondary shells, themselves are to be used for the installation of cleaning systems.
 20. The use of the complex structural support structure according to claim 19, by means of which dust and dirt on the floor are sucked into the intermediate space and filtered out of the air through the use of appropriately perforated panels and special, permeable textile coverings.
 21. The use of the complex structural support structure according to claim 19, in which, when hard floors are installed, the gaps to be widened in regions between the additional panels or the secondary shells are designed so spray wipers and drainage channels can be mounted.
 22. The use of the complex structural support structure according to claim 19, in which, when hard floors are installed, rod-like spray wipers installed when the cleaning system is put into operation are moved upwards, cleaning liquid is distributed from integrated spray nozzles, and with the wipers, which either rotate about a vertical axis or are moved by linear drives over the surface of the panel to be cleaned, the dissolved dirt and dust is wiped in drainage channels which are also arranged between the panels.
 23. The use of the complex structural support structure according to claim 22, in which the cleaning solution can also be distributed in wet rooms by separate, adjustable nozzles, which can be located on all surfaces enclosing the room, and then wiped into the drainage channel.
 24. The use of the complex structural support structure according to claim 19, in which residual liquid is dried off the surfaces by means of air to be injected through special nozzles.
 25. The use of the complex structural support structure according to claim 19, in which installed floor wipers are designed to be flexible and are segmented, wherein obstacles located on the floor such as furniture need to be avoided.
 26. (canceled)
 27. The use of complex structural support structures according to claim 1, in which the containers are designed as plant containers for use as a plant factory and are formed with an appropriate area and at an appropriate height on the wall and in which topsoil or plant substrate is placed for the purpose of plant cultivation. 28.-30. (canceled)
 31. The use of complex structural support structures according to claim 1, in which the space between the secondary shells is used for aquariums, terrariums, or small animal husbandry.
 32. The use of complex structural support structures according to claim 1 for use in cases of rising sea levels or ground water levels, poor subsoil conditions, and earthquakes, whereby the lower part of the building to be built, i.e. the foundation and the walls rising from the foundation up to an appropriate height, are designed to be impervious to liquids, for example by means of a waterproof outer coating or cladding, and a plurality of primary shells can be arranged one above the other in this area, and larger number of liquid tanks or air cushions, which need to be filled and drained separately and are evenly distributed over the floor space, are located in the lowest part of the building to be built, and the building is erected using load-bearing structure modules in a very stable, watertight trough with an open top, the inner surfaces of which correspond to the respective outer surfaces of the building plus an appropriate gap, and, after the building is erected, flexible liquid tanks or air cushions, which can also be filled or drained separately, or length-adjustable, rod-like elements with which the distance between the inner wall of the trough and the exterior wall of the building can be controlled, for example, are installed in the space between the inner walls of the trough and the exterior walls of the building and, in a next step, the trough is filled to an appropriate height with water or another suitable liquid so that the building floats and the horizontal position of the building is continuously monitored and controlled by separately filling and emptying each of the liquid tanks or air cushions located in the building, as well as by separately filling and emptying each of the lateral liquid tanks or air cushions or by adjusting the length of the rod-like elements, whereby the height of the building can likewise be adapted using the described control mechanisms and by changing the level of the liquid in the trough; wherein in the event of earthquakes, the input energy transmitted into the building structure is sufficiently low as a result of the as a rea stability and the mass inertia of the building at simultaneously very low and therefore controllable restraint of the foundation in order to avoid damage. 